Miami Courant

MIAMI – On July 11, the United States unsealed an indictment charging eight defendants, including five members of the Almighty Latin King gang (“Latin Kings”), with federal drug and firearm offenses.

The twenty-six count indictment charges Dayana Garcia, 34, Eduardo Monteagudo, 41, and Armando Rodriguez, Jr., 38, all of Miami, Fla., with conspiring with Bernardo Olvera, a/k/a “King Handsome,” 35, also of Miami, to distribute 500 or more grams of cocaine in Miami-Dade County.

According to allegations in the court record, including previously filed criminal complaints, Olvera is a known member of the Latin Kings gang. Codefendants Jerry Rodriguez, a/k/a “King Suave,” 30, of West Palm Beach, Fla., Blas Barrios, a/k/a “King Blasito,” 44, of Miami; Joshua De Paula, a/k/a “King Vision,” 28, of West Palm Beach; and Ricky Mourin, a/k/a “King Rick,” 33, of Naranja, Fla., are also identified as members. Olvera and these codefendants allegedly engaged in the illegal sale of narcotics and/or firearms on multiple occasions between January and June 2024. The indictment charges them with conspiring to distribute 500 or more grams of cocaine, 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, and 28 grams of cocaine base throughout South Florida.

Olvera and Rodriguez face additional federal charges for criminal conduct involving firearms. Both convicted felons are charged with unlawfully possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and possessing a firearm after a felony conviction. Rodriguez faces further charges for unlawfully transferring a machine gun.

The defendants were taken into custody on June 27 at various locations across South Florida and made their initial appearances in the Southern District of Florida on June 28. If convicted on all counts, they each face up to life in prison.

On July 11, Garcia and Monteagudo were taken into custody in Miami and had their initial appearances in the Southern District of Florida. They are currently detained while Rodriguez Jr. is pending arrest. If convicted on all counts related to drug distribution conspiracy charges against them individually carry penalties up to forty years imprisonment.

U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida; Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle; Special Agent in Charge Christopher A. Robinson from ATF’s Miami Field Division; Director Stephanie V. Daniels from MDPD; Special Agent in Charge Anthony Salisbury from HSI Miami; and U.S. Marshal Gadyaces S. Serralta made the announcement.

ATF’s National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) was used during this investigation to link firearms from multiple crime scenes aiding law enforcement efforts to disrupt shooting cycles quickly.

This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation aimed at dismantling high-level criminal organizations threatening the United States through prosecutor-led intelligence-driven multi-agency approaches.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Monica K. Castro is prosecuting this case while Assistant U.S Attorney Mitchell Hyman handles asset forfeiture aspects associated with it.

An indictment contains mere allegations where all defendants remain presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt within court proceedings.

For further information about OCDETF visit https://www.justice.gov/ocdetf

For details regarding NIBIN visit https://www.atf.gov/firearms/national-integrated-ballistic-information-network-nibin

Additional information regarding HIDTA can be found at https://www.dea.gov/operations/hidta

Further updates related directly towards this press release may be accessed via United States Attorney’s Office website: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl

Related court documents/information available through District Court website: https://www.flsd.uscourts.gov under case number:24-cr-20289

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